Sewing Machine Operators pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,650 or more. The middle half of sewing machine operators in Chattanooga earn between $30,120 and $44,060.
- $24K10th
- $30K25th
- $37KMedian
- $44K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,580 | $3,048 | $17.59 |
| Median | $36,800 | $3,067 | $17.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,120 | $2,510 | $14.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,060 | $3,672 | $21.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sewing Machine Operators pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Sewing machine operators in Chattanooga earn 8% more than the Tennessee average ($33,760) and about the same as the U.S. average ($37,600). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $36,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $36,580 | $36,800 | $23,540 | $45,650 | 180 |
| Tennessee | $33,760 | $34,220 | $19,130 | $46,800 | 3,300 |
| United States | $37,600 | $36,670 | $27,860 | $47,840 | 104,880 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sewing Machine Operators salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $36,580, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $31,572 a year, or $2,631 a month and $1,214 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $31,572 | $2,631 |
| Working in GA | $30,495 | $2,541 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for sewing machine operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $36,580 buys what about $39,994 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Sewing Machine Operators salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 2nd of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($36,980).
- Nashville$36,980
- Chattanooga$36,580
- Jackson$36,250
- Clarksville$34,240
- Memphis$34,000
- Cleveland$33,720
- Morristown$33,430
- Johnson City$33,350
- Knoxville$33,220
Highest-paying cities for sewing machine operators
Appleton, WI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($51,830).
- Appleton, WI$51,830
- Bend, OR$47,980
- San Jose, CA$47,860
- Santa Cruz, CA$47,460
- San Francisco, CA$46,380
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Sewing Machine Operators salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do sewing machine operators make an hour in Chattanooga?
$17.59 an hour on average, and $17.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sewing machine operators salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sewing machine operators take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $31,572 a year ($2,631 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,580. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do sewing machine operators earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($37,600).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-6031; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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